2002 – Liz is awarded a MacArthur “genius” grant

Announcement from the MacArthur Foundation

Liz Lerman, a gifted teacher, choreographer, and performer, is redefining where dance takes place and who can dance. Early in her work, she demonstrated the power and role of dance for older people. Her contemporary dance performance company, the Dance Exchange, includes men and women ranging in age from the 20s through the 70s and from all walks of life. Lerman challenges the assumption that only professionals can create dance that is aesthetically pleasing and appreciated by audiences. In towns and cities throughout the country, her workshops have inspired local people—from shipyard workers to clerics—to dance with the troupe. Her most recent project, “Hallelujah,” combines dance, music, and stories to reflect the character of each community—from Eastport, Maine, to Los Angeles, California. Lerman builds community, encourages personal insight, and choreographs dances that have been called visionary, profound, and revelatory.

Liz Lerman received a B.A. (1970) from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an M.F.A. (1982) from George Washington University. She founded the Dance Exchange in 1976 and has choreographed works that have been seen throughout the United States and abroad. Lerman’s choreographic work has received support from Meet The Composer, the National Endowment for the Arts, AT&T, and the American Festival Project. Her work has been commissioned by the Lincoln Center, the American Dance Festival, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and the Houston Society of Performing Arts. Lerman is the author of Teaching Dance to Senior Adults (1983) and the recipient of an American Choreography Award.